Wackiest food dictum you've heard (this week)

Ok, I'll start by saying that this didn't happen to me but to my brother, with whom I work. Still, it was so wacky, I just had to vent it.

Our office is located almost directly above Stash's Grill in Highland Park. Earlier this week, he went down there to get an order of fries. Stash's does not salt their fries and until now, we never understood why. It never really made sense to us because they're french fries and not normally associated with healthy eating, so what difference is a little table salt going to make, anyway? Adding salt to fries after they cool off and the oil soaks in, does not allow the salt to properly adhere to the fries.

In any case, knowing all this, my bro specifically asked if they would salt the fries. The person behind the counter politely agreed, adding without solicitation that they don't normally do so. My brother told him that he already knew this, and it was exactly why he'd made his request. The person behind the counter then went on to explain, again without prompting, that the reason they don't salt the fries is because they taste so much better without salt. At first, my brother thought he was kidding but then realized that he was serious. They got into a cordial discussion about it, at the end of which my brother told the counterman, "let's just agree to disagree."

I actually like Stash's and think it may be the second best hot dog joint in Highland Park. But, if you ever go in there and want some french fries, best to remember to special order them 'with salt.'

=R=

Stash's Grill
610 Central Ave
Highland Park, IL 60035
847 432-6550

A food dictum stated emphatically to me years ago:

Perhaps ten years ago, we ate with my young children and two dear friends at a Pakistani restaurant, long defunct, on Western near Devon—I think it was called Sultan’s Palace. The owner was a large, handsome, genial Pakistani who was married to an Irish woman. He wanted us to be sure to understand the differences between Indian and Pakistani cuisines, which for him came down to eating meat.

“Vegetarians are weak, I tell you. Weak, weak, weak!” He exclaimed forcefully.

We didn’t tell him one of our party was a vegetarian, and of course she was able to eat quite well there. We still like to quote him at our house—it’s one of those sayings that has passed into our family’s special language.

The owner of Noon-o-kebab likes to come by tables and guess the blood type of everyone present, and then suggest food for them to eat based on that blood type.

It's awfully weird.

EvA wrote:“Vegetarians are weak, I tell you. Weak, weak, weak!” He exclaimed forcefully.

We didn’t tell him one of our party was a vegetarian, and of course she was able to eat quite well there. We still like to quote him at our house—it’s one of those sayings that has passed into our family’s special language.

That is a question that is being asked in baseball - What is the impact of a vegetarian diet on athletic performance!

Milwaukee Brewer phenom Prince Fielder announced that he was going to become vegetarian this year. Last year, he hit 50 home runs. After over a third of the season, he has only 11 and most of his power numbers are down.

On the other hand, he is carrying 270 lbs on a 5-11 frame.

I was in desperate need of hamburger buns on Thursday, so , I stopped into Breadsmith on Dempster . I asked the clerk if they had any, and she told me that they only have them on Sundays--- unless of course I special order them.

Huh ???

When I was going to college in Connecticut ('90s) - we were putting together a party for reunion (in June).

We went to the grocery store looking for cocktail wieners - and couldn't find any. We asked a clerk - and were informed that the store didn't carry them - because they were out of season. When we questioned that answer - we were further told that the season for cocktail wieners is Labor Day to just after Super Bowl.

Who knew that cocktail wieners had a season.....

I figure if there's no season for cocktails, there should be no season for weiners.

There's a place called Pita & Pizza - which is odd enough as it is - that will not sell just pita, unlike Pita Inn and, oh, EVERYWHERE ELSE. I had leftover hummus one day and no leftover pita to eat it with, so I stopped by to get some. They said they don't sell them that way, and I had to cross the street to a convenience store to buy a package instead. Zuh? Then I had the hot dog/bun experience; the package had about 8 pitas when all I needed was maybe 3, so then I had to go somewhere else the next day to get more hummus to eat with the leftover pita...

I am happy to report I am now out of both.

Also, this place obviously uses some pizza grease in their hummus instead of olive oil. Not awful, just weird.